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Hamilton County health lists COVID-19 cases by ZIP code

A Cheviot Fire Department EMT returns a used stretcher to his ambulance while wearing full coveralls and mask outside the emergency entrance at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center in the Avondale neighborhood of Cincinnati on Thursday, April 2, 2020.(Photo: Sam Greene/The Enquirer)

The list and a map on the public health website indicate areas with anywhere from one to 10 positive cases of the novel coronavirus illness in the county. Springfield Township and Mount Healthy appear to be the hardest hit, but the listing does not show population or list the per capita rate of infection to make comparisons between ZIP codes clearer.

An Enquirer analysis of the data provided by the health department shows that the concentration of people testing positive on a per capita basis is most intense in the 45251 ZIP code, which is roughly bounded on the south by the Reagan Highway, the east by Pippin Road, the west by Interstate 275 to Colerain Avenue and on the north by John Gray Road. It includes all of parts of the Bevis, Northbrook and Pleasant Run communities in Colerain Township.

The data only covers the county outside Cincinnati, Norwood and Springdale, which have their own health departments.

"The importance of this map is to show people that COVID-19 is everywhere in Hamilton County," interim Hamilton County Health Commissioner Greg Kesterman said Friday.

Ohio Health Department Director Dr. Amy Acton said Friday afternoon that it is important to be careful not to identify individuals with COVID-19 while providing ZIP code information.

"When we are able to provide information that does not compromise health privacy," Kesterman said, "we are trying to get it out to the public."

[ All of The Enquirer's coverage of the new coronavirus is being provided for free to our readers. Please consider supporting local journalism by subscribing to The Enquirer at cincinnati.com/subscribe ]

"We want to give the flavor of what's happening in our community," Kesterman said. The population ratio would likely be skewed, he said, because there are countless cases of presumptive or even unknown COVID-19. And it's unclear how many people have the illness.

Acton underscored that, because of limited testing available, it may be too soon to identify "hot spots" this soon.

Kesterman said he spoke with public health officials in other metro area including Cleveland and Columbus before moving ahead with posting the information.

He said his staff currently is unable to provide hourly or even daily updates because employees are too busy, responding in every way possible to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Most important, Kesterman said, is to practice health defenses including washing your hands thoroughly and frequently, staying at home unless you must go out and keeping a distance of at least 6 feet between yourself and others.